Our red neighbor, one rock out, is as close as it's been to our blue/white planet in 15 years today. If you can see the night sky (unlikely for Va. tonight) it is stunningly bright and a deep red/orange rising up in the east after darkness descends. Yes, Saturn, Jupiter and Venus are out there, too, but Mars is brighter than all but Venus and such an eye catching color.
Just checked out space weather.com and our nearby star continues its quiet, solar minimum phase. No sunspots in over a month and a quiet sun means more high energy radiation from the rest of the universe can zap the Earth, and it is. An active sun shields us from the cosmic radiation bursts making it to the inner solar system. So, a quiet sun increases radiation levels (already higher with less atmosphere between) for aircraft personnel and folks on the space station but really shouldn't effect us low altitude surface dwellers. Just a reminder it's a wild universe out there and it can effect our world (and may have triggered extinction events in the past).
It remains socked-in on the Eastern seaboard with shower chances increasing as the day goes on. The rain chances and cooler, cloudier weather look to continue until about the weekend with long term trends suggesting more of the same well into August. The high pressure ridge over the west will therefore continue offering little help for crews fighting the many fires raging across the west (17 in California alone). Temps out west in many locations will be at or over 100 today while we finish July in the low to mid 80's.
A fairly shaky quake day but no big quakes on today's list and no eruptions yet in Hawaii (it's early) but the island state still has the standard hundreds of small quakes for the ongoing eruption. Get out and enjoy the cool, albeit muggy, weather, Today on Earth.
Tuesday, July 31, 2018
Monday, July 30, 2018
Cool& Damp With Showers - Repeat
After a pretty much dry weekend (although the lake was wet), the front that slid south to set up the lovely weekend is oozing back north and going to stall over the east coast, just like last week. So far, like last week, the storms have wet the ground here but really haven't rained. Another few hundredths with a little shower this afternoon, just enough to make it too wet to do much outside. There is more of that to come, looks like for the whole week but with nothing but below average temps.
There are no hints of hurricanes in the Atlantic basin, although we are a month away from the seasonal peak, just steady moisture streaming north from the ocean and gulf.
A quiet day on the earthquake list but for the several hundred in Hawaii with another mag. 5.3 from yet another eruptive blast. A 5.4 quake in PNG and some in the Caribbean, Oklahoma and California. The real issue in CA. is fire; tender dry forests (drought and fire suppression), hot dry weather and idiot humans playing with matches and you have major problems and they do. Hundreds of homes burned, Yosemite closed with fire/air quality concerns and very little chance of controlling it without rain. Seems like over a dozen states with major fires burning while you'd be hard pressed to light a fire on the east coast without a flame thrower.
The sky show has made occasional appearances here in the cloudy east and Mars really is the star of the show. It is so bright and so red, it just grabs your eye and screams for attention. Venus is still brighter, setting in the west after dark but it's white; the color of Mars is the eye catcher. The moon is waning, shrinking in size and rising later and later in the evening so the just dark sky is ruled by planets and I haven't yet been in a good viewing spot to see all 4 at once but Venus, Jupiter and Saturn are easy to spot 1/2 hour after sunset, Mars takes a little longer to pop up but it is rising earlier and earlier each day as we catch up with our neighbor one planet out. The bright stars of the Summer Triangle are overhead well after dark and the Big Dipper looks like a dipper high in the northwest, its handle arcing to bright Arcturus, which makes a nice top spot in a triangle with Venus and Jupiter. If your skies clear, get out and check it out, or take an earlier walk (like I'm about to) and enjoy a coolish July day, Today on Earth.
There are no hints of hurricanes in the Atlantic basin, although we are a month away from the seasonal peak, just steady moisture streaming north from the ocean and gulf.
A quiet day on the earthquake list but for the several hundred in Hawaii with another mag. 5.3 from yet another eruptive blast. A 5.4 quake in PNG and some in the Caribbean, Oklahoma and California. The real issue in CA. is fire; tender dry forests (drought and fire suppression), hot dry weather and idiot humans playing with matches and you have major problems and they do. Hundreds of homes burned, Yosemite closed with fire/air quality concerns and very little chance of controlling it without rain. Seems like over a dozen states with major fires burning while you'd be hard pressed to light a fire on the east coast without a flame thrower.
The sky show has made occasional appearances here in the cloudy east and Mars really is the star of the show. It is so bright and so red, it just grabs your eye and screams for attention. Venus is still brighter, setting in the west after dark but it's white; the color of Mars is the eye catcher. The moon is waning, shrinking in size and rising later and later in the evening so the just dark sky is ruled by planets and I haven't yet been in a good viewing spot to see all 4 at once but Venus, Jupiter and Saturn are easy to spot 1/2 hour after sunset, Mars takes a little longer to pop up but it is rising earlier and earlier each day as we catch up with our neighbor one planet out. The bright stars of the Summer Triangle are overhead well after dark and the Big Dipper looks like a dipper high in the northwest, its handle arcing to bright Arcturus, which makes a nice top spot in a triangle with Venus and Jupiter. If your skies clear, get out and check it out, or take an earlier walk (like I'm about to) and enjoy a coolish July day, Today on Earth.
Friday, July 27, 2018
Full Moon With Mars
At 4:20 today (EDT) the moon will be directly behind the Earth and Full; and since it's lined up perfectly with its planet the moon will move into the planet's shadow and be eclipsed, a total lunar eclipse; if you live in Africa, Asia or Europe. At 4:20, we here in North America will be in direct sunlight, hours away from the Earth's shadow and the eclipse. Those in the eclipse zone (the entire nighttime side of Earth) will get an eclipse bonus treat with bright red Mars just below the eclipsed, and copper colored itself, moon. North America will (clouds allowing)see the Full Moon tonight with Mars shining brilliantly below it, we'll just miss the eclipse. Still, with a clear sky, get out and check it out.
Not only is the moon lined up with Earth today/tonight, it is at apogee and as far as it's going to get this month from Earth and will be small for a full moon, still way bigger and brighter than Mars. That smaller moon will take longer to move through our shadow, it will move dead center through the shadow with the total eclipse lasting almost two hours.
Mars, on the other hand, is as close to Earth as it's been in 15 years (and in 2003 is was closer than it had been in almost 60,000 years) and won't be this close again for 17 more years, so it is about as bright as it can get for Earthly viewers. You will notice Mars is below the moon, and it's about 6 degrees below the ecliptic, the plane of our solar system. If you scan ever westward from the moon and Mars you'll see the ecliptic because the moon, then Saturn, then Jupiter and lastly Venus are on the ecliptic, that curve the sun takes through the sky. Yes, they are all out there tonight. Venus will be close to setting as Mars rises but with a big view of the sky and good timing (9-9:30) you should be able to catch them all. They were spectacular last night (first time the sky had been clear around here in quite awhile) and should be tonight, as well. How do you know it's a planet? It won't twinkle, it's brighter than any nearby stars and it's on the ecliptic.
The clarity of viewing will depend on the front moving through today and right now it doesn't look good. A few raindrops just landed outside and the sun is having trouble finding a way through the clouds here in central Va. Today is supposed to make the low 90's with a better chance for storms than yesterday; Saturday will be cooler with still lowish storm chances but by Sunday we settle back into the soup that has been around for most of this week. Still, not bad out there so far today, muggy but a little breeze and it's not 90 yet. Just back from a stroll with brown dog and I recommend it; get out and check out your planet, Today or Tonight on Earth.
Not only is the moon lined up with Earth today/tonight, it is at apogee and as far as it's going to get this month from Earth and will be small for a full moon, still way bigger and brighter than Mars. That smaller moon will take longer to move through our shadow, it will move dead center through the shadow with the total eclipse lasting almost two hours.
Mars, on the other hand, is as close to Earth as it's been in 15 years (and in 2003 is was closer than it had been in almost 60,000 years) and won't be this close again for 17 more years, so it is about as bright as it can get for Earthly viewers. You will notice Mars is below the moon, and it's about 6 degrees below the ecliptic, the plane of our solar system. If you scan ever westward from the moon and Mars you'll see the ecliptic because the moon, then Saturn, then Jupiter and lastly Venus are on the ecliptic, that curve the sun takes through the sky. Yes, they are all out there tonight. Venus will be close to setting as Mars rises but with a big view of the sky and good timing (9-9:30) you should be able to catch them all. They were spectacular last night (first time the sky had been clear around here in quite awhile) and should be tonight, as well. How do you know it's a planet? It won't twinkle, it's brighter than any nearby stars and it's on the ecliptic.
The clarity of viewing will depend on the front moving through today and right now it doesn't look good. A few raindrops just landed outside and the sun is having trouble finding a way through the clouds here in central Va. Today is supposed to make the low 90's with a better chance for storms than yesterday; Saturday will be cooler with still lowish storm chances but by Sunday we settle back into the soup that has been around for most of this week. Still, not bad out there so far today, muggy but a little breeze and it's not 90 yet. Just back from a stroll with brown dog and I recommend it; get out and check out your planet, Today or Tonight on Earth.
Thursday, July 26, 2018
2 Years With A Large Brown Dog
2 years ago we were putting the finishing touches of prep work to add a large, chocolate Breyer dog to the tirehouse. His kennel was ready; he was more than happy to climb in the car and completely blew off the recently bought and built kennel, walked right up to the front door and all but said, "let me in the air conditioned house". And, that is where he sleep today. He will pop into the kennel for a drink from the 5 gallon water bucket in there, but, sadly, the kennel is "time out" for him these days and he rules the house. He obviously had been inside and on the bed and furniture in his pre-abandoned life but learned pretty quickly that was not the case here. Our first walk, on leash mostly, had him acting like he'd been here before; when off leash he seemed to already know the trail patterns; it's been a 2 year treat having the big guy around. He's a little sad right now because his girlfriend seems to be unavailable for his morning visits; he's going to have to get used to that with school about to start back up in Louisa. Good thing his new dad is retired and he'll get to wander with me every day in forest that he's in charge of: the King of Quail.
I realize it's been two days since last I wrote about "today on Earth" but for Virginia it's been more of the same: muggy, not really warm but not cool (with an occasional breeze it was quite pleasant) with periods of rain. The 6+" forecast for here hasn't even come close to happening - barely an inch- but the DeeCee area has been hammered and flooded and the Tidewater area of Va. has also been in the 5+" storm scene and had considerable flooding. Today there is less rain chance as the system is being pushed farther north and eventually off shore by a front pushing through today but temps will rise to near 90. Tomorrow and Saturday are forecast to have lower rain chances before another system sets up and we get a repeat performance next week of soggy weather.
While we are soaked, and the moss is loving it on my trails, the western US is either cooking or on fire or both. Record temps and massive fires are causing major issues with Yosemite Nat. Park closed because of fires and smoke and Death Valley hitting 127 a couple of days ago and Portland and Seattle are cooking in the 90's. The climate change science has been talking about for 60+ years is happening now and it's not sudden, just steady and ever changing: bigger rain events, longer droughts, higher and higher temps; Global Warming. And, as usual, people are shocked, "I can't believe it flooded Norfolk like this" and that's just rain, wait till the next king spring tide when the flooding is from the ocean. (That won't be with the full moon tomorrow because the moon is at Apogee and farthest from Earth...)
The new, weekly volcano list has 22 mountains rumbling and belching and oozing with Indonesia leading the list with 5. Kilauea is still the one going big, fissure 8 still dumping new basalt into the Pacific and burning homes. The quake list mostly outlines plate boundaries, diverging, converging and transform boundaries all with quakes but none above magnitude 5.5 (S. Sandwich Isles along the always agitated Scotia Plate).
There may be more sky visible tonight with less storm chance but I did get a cool view 3 nights ago: 3 stars, 2 planets and the moon, that was all I could see through the haze. The stars Vega, Altair and Deneb made up the summer triangle and were almost straight overhead and the moon was joined by golden Saturn and very red Mars. That was it, the clouds blocked everything else; it was like being in a lit up city.
The anniversary dog is up and out and patiently waiting for his morning walk and I need to oblige; he's in charge!! Hope you get out and enjoy some summer sun and heat, today on Earth.
The first picture I took of the Breyer dog! What a handsome rascal!! He's a "little" bigger now; well fed!
I realize it's been two days since last I wrote about "today on Earth" but for Virginia it's been more of the same: muggy, not really warm but not cool (with an occasional breeze it was quite pleasant) with periods of rain. The 6+" forecast for here hasn't even come close to happening - barely an inch- but the DeeCee area has been hammered and flooded and the Tidewater area of Va. has also been in the 5+" storm scene and had considerable flooding. Today there is less rain chance as the system is being pushed farther north and eventually off shore by a front pushing through today but temps will rise to near 90. Tomorrow and Saturday are forecast to have lower rain chances before another system sets up and we get a repeat performance next week of soggy weather.
While we are soaked, and the moss is loving it on my trails, the western US is either cooking or on fire or both. Record temps and massive fires are causing major issues with Yosemite Nat. Park closed because of fires and smoke and Death Valley hitting 127 a couple of days ago and Portland and Seattle are cooking in the 90's. The climate change science has been talking about for 60+ years is happening now and it's not sudden, just steady and ever changing: bigger rain events, longer droughts, higher and higher temps; Global Warming. And, as usual, people are shocked, "I can't believe it flooded Norfolk like this" and that's just rain, wait till the next king spring tide when the flooding is from the ocean. (That won't be with the full moon tomorrow because the moon is at Apogee and farthest from Earth...)
The new, weekly volcano list has 22 mountains rumbling and belching and oozing with Indonesia leading the list with 5. Kilauea is still the one going big, fissure 8 still dumping new basalt into the Pacific and burning homes. The quake list mostly outlines plate boundaries, diverging, converging and transform boundaries all with quakes but none above magnitude 5.5 (S. Sandwich Isles along the always agitated Scotia Plate).
There may be more sky visible tonight with less storm chance but I did get a cool view 3 nights ago: 3 stars, 2 planets and the moon, that was all I could see through the haze. The stars Vega, Altair and Deneb made up the summer triangle and were almost straight overhead and the moon was joined by golden Saturn and very red Mars. That was it, the clouds blocked everything else; it was like being in a lit up city.
The anniversary dog is up and out and patiently waiting for his morning walk and I need to oblige; he's in charge!! Hope you get out and enjoy some summer sun and heat, today on Earth.
The first picture I took of the Breyer dog! What a handsome rascal!! He's a "little" bigger now; well fed!
Monday, July 23, 2018
2 Billion Seconds
Sometime this past spring I reached a milestone: I have now been alive for over 2 billion seconds (no, I didn't count...). A billion is a LOT, a thousand million, which of course, is a thousand thousand, get the pattern (many people we elect to office don't know the pattern which may be why we are $20 trillion in debt - that's over $61,500. apiece for all 325 million Americans...). When I was born in late 1954 there were about 2.67 billion humans on Earth, an estimate from the UN pop clock today is a little over 7.6 billion; the human population has almost tripled in my 63+ year lifetime. The population site claims the growth is slowing but still predicts 10 or 11 billion by 2050ish. Let's just say it, that's too many humans to live like Americans do (and that's what many people would like).
Thomas Malthus warned us about population 200 years ago, 50 years ago Paul Ehrlich warned us again with The Population Bomb (he has pretty much admitted it's too late and humans are done...he's a biologist) and Isaac Asimov warned this young college student in the 1970's that the issues of the future would all be because of population pressures - I've seen nothing to refute him in the 45 years since. The illegal immigration from the south (and north) into the US, the waves of people fleeing Africa and the Middle East are all due to poorly planned parenting - if YOU can't take care of a kid, don't have one, much less two or six or ten.
And, we have a bunch of bozos in charge (and that is a very loose use of the term in charge...) want to cut access to contraception, in most any form. Those same hypocrites wave their holier than thou Jesus banner of false morality BUT don't offer any help to the people having the kids they can't care for; thanks, Jesus would be so proud. Until we realize that the root issue (patriarchal religious extremism) drives the anti-contraception forces which is causing the population growth which is causing ALL the other issues currently endangering human survival on Earth. And, you can't fix an ailing plant trimming the leaves when the roots are in poisoned soil. Root causes are being ignored. Global warming and sea level rise, storm/drought intensity, water quality, air quality, food quality, deforestation, plastic (and other) trash, overfishing, extraction industry pollution, soil degradation, space junk; the list could go on and on but doesn't matter. The issue is too many humans on the planet and the only way to deal with it is give women contraception so they can plan(with a father) to have none or one or two great kids. There are other things we can do as individuals to help human (and other) life on Earth but until we get this: PLAN PARENTHOOD - HAVE NONE OR ONE OR TWO GREAT KIDS, nothing else matters.
There's my take on the planet, Today On Earth. Time to find a dog and go for a walk, hope you dodge the raindrops and get out, too.
Thomas Malthus warned us about population 200 years ago, 50 years ago Paul Ehrlich warned us again with The Population Bomb (he has pretty much admitted it's too late and humans are done...he's a biologist) and Isaac Asimov warned this young college student in the 1970's that the issues of the future would all be because of population pressures - I've seen nothing to refute him in the 45 years since. The illegal immigration from the south (and north) into the US, the waves of people fleeing Africa and the Middle East are all due to poorly planned parenting - if YOU can't take care of a kid, don't have one, much less two or six or ten.
And, we have a bunch of bozos in charge (and that is a very loose use of the term in charge...) want to cut access to contraception, in most any form. Those same hypocrites wave their holier than thou Jesus banner of false morality BUT don't offer any help to the people having the kids they can't care for; thanks, Jesus would be so proud. Until we realize that the root issue (patriarchal religious extremism) drives the anti-contraception forces which is causing the population growth which is causing ALL the other issues currently endangering human survival on Earth. And, you can't fix an ailing plant trimming the leaves when the roots are in poisoned soil. Root causes are being ignored. Global warming and sea level rise, storm/drought intensity, water quality, air quality, food quality, deforestation, plastic (and other) trash, overfishing, extraction industry pollution, soil degradation, space junk; the list could go on and on but doesn't matter. The issue is too many humans on the planet and the only way to deal with it is give women contraception so they can plan(with a father) to have none or one or two great kids. There are other things we can do as individuals to help human (and other) life on Earth but until we get this: PLAN PARENTHOOD - HAVE NONE OR ONE OR TWO GREAT KIDS, nothing else matters.
There's my take on the planet, Today On Earth. Time to find a dog and go for a walk, hope you dodge the raindrops and get out, too.
Sunday, July 22, 2018
The Muggies Return
Today started cool and mostly cloudy and for July never got hot, but, and it's always the but that gets ya, there was a big increase in humidity and for someone trying to tear apart the remains of a bridge the sweat flowed easily. The forecast is still calling for upwards of 6" of rain for right here, we are the big winner in the rain forecast, but not yet. Still storms to the east and west but only a couple of hundredths here...time will tell.
The coastal low has moved off and now another low has slid in from the Great Lakes and seems cut off from the jet stream with few prospects for movement for much of the upcoming week. 3-6 inches of rain are forecast, that's why I thought now might be the time to retrieve the boards from the bridge that was swept away, in two pieces during the June 22nd 4+" deluge. Get them now or another 4" rain might move them much closer to the Chesapeake Bay than I would be able to retrieve them. Plans are in the works for a new bridge but I'm not sure this is the week.
We are in the middle of what my sister used to call, "the birthday week from hell"with my mom's birthday today, she would have been 96. My dad would have been 91 on Tuesday and his wife's kids and my sister's mother in law's birthday is tomorrow. Tomorrow is also a friend's 62nd birthday and it was two years ago on his 60th that I met the large brown dog that is now lounging on the floor here at the tire house, Breyer. A friend in California turned 65 yesterday and my nephew's 33rd trip around the planet finished up Wednesday. Quite the week of birthdays. Francesco Molinaro will remember today: he didn't make a bogey and everyone else did and he won the British Open Championship, becoming the first Italian to win one of golf's major. He has been dazzling of late, congrats to him.
Iran was the unlucky loser in the earthquake sweepstakes today; several quakes in the mid 5's, the biggest 5.9 in a couple of different spots in the rather large country ( my hope is there was none of the quakes were related to warfare).
Just heard some rumbling outside and it appears to be raining again. Going to sign off for now, hope you got out and enjoyed some muggy but cool weather and remember to turn around, don't drown if the floodwaters appear in your path. And, don't be afraid to take a walk in the rain, today on Earth.
The coastal low has moved off and now another low has slid in from the Great Lakes and seems cut off from the jet stream with few prospects for movement for much of the upcoming week. 3-6 inches of rain are forecast, that's why I thought now might be the time to retrieve the boards from the bridge that was swept away, in two pieces during the June 22nd 4+" deluge. Get them now or another 4" rain might move them much closer to the Chesapeake Bay than I would be able to retrieve them. Plans are in the works for a new bridge but I'm not sure this is the week.
We are in the middle of what my sister used to call, "the birthday week from hell"with my mom's birthday today, she would have been 96. My dad would have been 91 on Tuesday and his wife's kids and my sister's mother in law's birthday is tomorrow. Tomorrow is also a friend's 62nd birthday and it was two years ago on his 60th that I met the large brown dog that is now lounging on the floor here at the tire house, Breyer. A friend in California turned 65 yesterday and my nephew's 33rd trip around the planet finished up Wednesday. Quite the week of birthdays. Francesco Molinaro will remember today: he didn't make a bogey and everyone else did and he won the British Open Championship, becoming the first Italian to win one of golf's major. He has been dazzling of late, congrats to him.
Iran was the unlucky loser in the earthquake sweepstakes today; several quakes in the mid 5's, the biggest 5.9 in a couple of different spots in the rather large country ( my hope is there was none of the quakes were related to warfare).
Just heard some rumbling outside and it appears to be raining again. Going to sign off for now, hope you got out and enjoyed some muggy but cool weather and remember to turn around, don't drown if the floodwaters appear in your path. And, don't be afraid to take a walk in the rain, today on Earth.
Saturday, July 21, 2018
RAIN: Infiltration vs. Runoff
The almost month long drought (after a nearly 2 month deluge) ended here today with mostly gentle rain on the western edge of the moisture fetch that is soaking eastern Virginia. A low over Va. and the Carolinas is the source for today's rain and will hang for another day or two before another system moves that offshore and takes over to bring yet more rain for much of the upcoming week.
After 2/3" of rain here the HersheyDog Creek is still barely flowing and that gets us to today's theme: infiltrations vs. runoff. Dry ground and thirsty plants have taken most of the moisture that has fallen and slurped it up. Yesterday the moss on my paths was brown and crunchy, today it's lush and bright green; that's why moss has survived on earth for hundreds of millions of years, hunker down when it's dry and drink deeply and quickly when wet. The ground itself (I haven't done any digging lately) was, I'm guessing, pretty dry for aways below the surface so was quite receptive to today's rain and hence, no runoff. We'll see how long the gentle rain and infiltration lasts before we get back to the runoff that dominated the late spring and early summer. Forecasts for up to half a foot of rain this week will get us back to runoff!
Last night's sky, when breaks in the clouds allowed, was quite a sight with the just past quarter moon sitting right above Jupiter high up in the south. Dazzling Venus off to the southwest made for a really pretty sky as darkness settled over Charlottesville. The photo below was back at my house, clouds were an issue but also made for some nice effects. The little dot is Jupiter. The moon, moving around the earth about 12 degrees per day, slides away from Jupiter tonight and will have a fly-above with Saturn Tuesday night. I'm betting I won't see much of that if the weather forecast holds true.
Pretty good assortment of quakes around the planet but nothing above the mag. 5.4 shake from another eruption in Hawaii.
Time to get out for another walk on a cool, pleasant Saturday and take a dog for a stroll before my normal settling in for the Roots and Blues show on WNRN from 6 to 8. The tomatoes are coming in steadily these days and that means a tasty sauce to put over some pasta for tonight's meal. Hope your strolls are pleasant and your meals fresh from your garden, Today on Earth.
After 2/3" of rain here the HersheyDog Creek is still barely flowing and that gets us to today's theme: infiltrations vs. runoff. Dry ground and thirsty plants have taken most of the moisture that has fallen and slurped it up. Yesterday the moss on my paths was brown and crunchy, today it's lush and bright green; that's why moss has survived on earth for hundreds of millions of years, hunker down when it's dry and drink deeply and quickly when wet. The ground itself (I haven't done any digging lately) was, I'm guessing, pretty dry for aways below the surface so was quite receptive to today's rain and hence, no runoff. We'll see how long the gentle rain and infiltration lasts before we get back to the runoff that dominated the late spring and early summer. Forecasts for up to half a foot of rain this week will get us back to runoff!
Last night's sky, when breaks in the clouds allowed, was quite a sight with the just past quarter moon sitting right above Jupiter high up in the south. Dazzling Venus off to the southwest made for a really pretty sky as darkness settled over Charlottesville. The photo below was back at my house, clouds were an issue but also made for some nice effects. The little dot is Jupiter. The moon, moving around the earth about 12 degrees per day, slides away from Jupiter tonight and will have a fly-above with Saturn Tuesday night. I'm betting I won't see much of that if the weather forecast holds true.
Pretty good assortment of quakes around the planet but nothing above the mag. 5.4 shake from another eruption in Hawaii.
Time to get out for another walk on a cool, pleasant Saturday and take a dog for a stroll before my normal settling in for the Roots and Blues show on WNRN from 6 to 8. The tomatoes are coming in steadily these days and that means a tasty sauce to put over some pasta for tonight's meal. Hope your strolls are pleasant and your meals fresh from your garden, Today on Earth.
Friday, July 20, 2018
One More Day Before the Rains
While there is a slight chance of showers today - the cloud cover outside seems to lean in that direction- the real rain show will begin tomorrow and really kick it up Sunday as two big systems stall/lock over the mid-Atlantic for not only the weekend but much of next week. Forecasts range from 1/2" to over 6" for the period (with the usual certainty of weather forecasts) so if you have dry weather things to get done (cutting your dry grass...) today is the day to get it done. And, today is still fairly comfortable with lower humidity; temps won't be high during this wet stretch but dew points will once again make for oppressive conditions for outside adventures even without rain falling.
Several non-Ring O Fire volcanoes are fired up this week: Kilauea, especially fissure 8, continues to blast and ooze lava on the big island, both Etna and Stromboli are stirred up in Italy, Icelandic volcanologists are noting and a bit wary of one of there sleeping giants that is showing expansion and has been for awhile and Piton de la Fournaise is once again belching basalt north of Madagascar. Krakatoa's continued unrest has warnings still in place as it stirs again at the entrance to the Sundra Strait between Sumatra and Java. Fuego is not on the week's list...but there are several erupting mountains in South America, Alaska, Kamchatka and elsewhere in Indonesia.
Today's quake list (still hundreds in Hawaii) also includes two quakes at magnitude 6.0: PNG and Alaska with a few others along the usual plate boundaries. Stay loose as the big restless planet can start shaking at any time.
I'm attaching another shot of last night's spectacular sunset. If the clouds give us a break tonight, the barely gibbous moon will be hanging just above Jupiter, both in Libra. Should be a lovely combo.
Hope you get out and enjoy the less humid day, you likely won't have another coolish, dryish day in July. But, any day is still a good one to get out on the planet, especially Today on Earth.
Several non-Ring O Fire volcanoes are fired up this week: Kilauea, especially fissure 8, continues to blast and ooze lava on the big island, both Etna and Stromboli are stirred up in Italy, Icelandic volcanologists are noting and a bit wary of one of there sleeping giants that is showing expansion and has been for awhile and Piton de la Fournaise is once again belching basalt north of Madagascar. Krakatoa's continued unrest has warnings still in place as it stirs again at the entrance to the Sundra Strait between Sumatra and Java. Fuego is not on the week's list...but there are several erupting mountains in South America, Alaska, Kamchatka and elsewhere in Indonesia.
Today's quake list (still hundreds in Hawaii) also includes two quakes at magnitude 6.0: PNG and Alaska with a few others along the usual plate boundaries. Stay loose as the big restless planet can start shaking at any time.
I'm attaching another shot of last night's spectacular sunset. If the clouds give us a break tonight, the barely gibbous moon will be hanging just above Jupiter, both in Libra. Should be a lovely combo.
Hope you get out and enjoy the less humid day, you likely won't have another coolish, dryish day in July. But, any day is still a good one to get out on the planet, especially Today on Earth.
Another Nice Day & What a Sunset!!
61 degrees to start the day, only mid-80's by mid-afternoon and lowish humidity with fluffy cumulus clouds and it's a July day to enjoy. I did. Golf at the Hollows and several wanders in the woods, a fine day here in central Virginia. And, then a sunset that was off the charts for color and design while the last quarter moon and Jupiter and Venus waited for the sunset show to fade so they could dazzle the dark sky. Pretty cool planet, hope you got out and enjoyed it, Today on Earth.
Check the colors of this sunset... and no, the photo was not better.
Check the colors of this sunset... and no, the photo was not better.
Wednesday, July 18, 2018
Cool and Dry; Still No Rain
The front came through and again there was rain all around...but only 0.05" here. But, it's an amazing summer day with a breeze blowing around the cool dry air. Time to take a walk, and find my wayward dog. Neighbors must be home and he's visiting his girlfriend.
Finally saw the moon and Venus last night, a lovely sliver and a bright dot - wasn't quite dark enough to see Jupiter when I checked it out but tonight should be cloud free and a fine sky night. See if you can spot Mercury, it's fading fast both in brightness and height as it races to catch us. It will slide between us in early August and by late next month will pop up as a morning star. Saturn still shines golden in the Milky Way in Sagittarius, lowish is the east early evening but high up near midnight with the rings tipped for fine telescope viewing. Mars, now bright and red, rises a little after dark and rules the dark sky around Capricorn. Compare it to Antares (Mars "Ares" rival), the red heart of Scorpio, below and left of Jupiter. Not often you can see all 5 planets in an evening, especially a cool dry evening in July, get out and check out your solar system (the Milky Way galaxy is pretty spectacular on summer evenings across the dome of the sky), Today and Tonight on Earth.
Finally saw the moon and Venus last night, a lovely sliver and a bright dot - wasn't quite dark enough to see Jupiter when I checked it out but tonight should be cloud free and a fine sky night. See if you can spot Mercury, it's fading fast both in brightness and height as it races to catch us. It will slide between us in early August and by late next month will pop up as a morning star. Saturn still shines golden in the Milky Way in Sagittarius, lowish is the east early evening but high up near midnight with the rings tipped for fine telescope viewing. Mars, now bright and red, rises a little after dark and rules the dark sky around Capricorn. Compare it to Antares (Mars "Ares" rival), the red heart of Scorpio, below and left of Jupiter. Not often you can see all 5 planets in an evening, especially a cool dry evening in July, get out and check out your solar system (the Milky Way galaxy is pretty spectacular on summer evenings across the dome of the sky), Today and Tonight on Earth.
Tuesday, July 17, 2018
In the Doughnut Hole, Again!
It rained yesterday, just not here. At one point, there was rain on the radar all the way around my house, and I could hear the thunder and feel the wind but other than a few drops nothing fell, here. So, after 10" on rain in June, there has yet to be measurable rain in July; it can seem a fickle planet, but, I have to remind myself, it doesn't care.
Today is forecast to be even more stormy with a front pushing through and a three day break in both temp and humidity before the return to the reality of summer this weekend. Last weekend was a lovely reminder of why people visit the mountains in the summer: it's cooler. Red Wing Roots music festival - year 6 - was bigger (word is out) than ever but still small enough to be friendly and fun for all involved. Always a treat to go see the big limestone chimneys and enjoy a weekend of friends and tunes surrounded by ancient mountains; pretty nice place, Virginia.
The drive home got sketchy when I encountered a monster t'storm on the east slope of the Blue Ridge, a far cry from the gentle showers at the festival Sunday, but like most storms it was short lived and the rain didn't follow farther east. The large brown dog was excited to see me and ready to head home, too when I did make it back to my sister's - and what a shock to get out into the hot, muggy funk that had been the weekend in central Va.
Hawaii is a wonderful place, too (so I've heard) unless you bought land too close to the volcano and now are looking for a place to live elsewhere; it's still erupting big out there. Nothing big in quake land when I checked yesterday and mostly the same today, 5 quakes at or above mag. 5 but nothing anywhere terribly problematic.
I know the waxing crescent moon has been sliding by both Mercury and Venus but with clouds around I have seen neither encounter. Tonight is likely to be the same around here, cooler, drier air tomorrow will hopefully allow some sky viewing with the growing crescent about halfway between Venus and Jupiter.
There's a quick 4 day recap, time to get a big dog out for a stroll, a town run, likely a nap (yesterday's was needed, deep and renewing) and then we'll see if any rain will fall in the doughnut hole, Today on Earth.
Today is forecast to be even more stormy with a front pushing through and a three day break in both temp and humidity before the return to the reality of summer this weekend. Last weekend was a lovely reminder of why people visit the mountains in the summer: it's cooler. Red Wing Roots music festival - year 6 - was bigger (word is out) than ever but still small enough to be friendly and fun for all involved. Always a treat to go see the big limestone chimneys and enjoy a weekend of friends and tunes surrounded by ancient mountains; pretty nice place, Virginia.
The drive home got sketchy when I encountered a monster t'storm on the east slope of the Blue Ridge, a far cry from the gentle showers at the festival Sunday, but like most storms it was short lived and the rain didn't follow farther east. The large brown dog was excited to see me and ready to head home, too when I did make it back to my sister's - and what a shock to get out into the hot, muggy funk that had been the weekend in central Va.
Hawaii is a wonderful place, too (so I've heard) unless you bought land too close to the volcano and now are looking for a place to live elsewhere; it's still erupting big out there. Nothing big in quake land when I checked yesterday and mostly the same today, 5 quakes at or above mag. 5 but nothing anywhere terribly problematic.
I know the waxing crescent moon has been sliding by both Mercury and Venus but with clouds around I have seen neither encounter. Tonight is likely to be the same around here, cooler, drier air tomorrow will hopefully allow some sky viewing with the growing crescent about halfway between Venus and Jupiter.
There's a quick 4 day recap, time to get a big dog out for a stroll, a town run, likely a nap (yesterday's was needed, deep and renewing) and then we'll see if any rain will fall in the doughnut hole, Today on Earth.
Thursday, July 12, 2018
But, Wait A Day...And It's Less Humid
A cold front, forecast to only have a slight chance of showers, much less wild storms, slid through last night, and those wild storms caused flooding in Waynesboro and snapping off trees in the west end of Richmond (but, no rain at the tirehouse) before stalling in the Carolinas. That ushered in another breath of drier, slightly cooler air and made for a nice Thursday in Va. Still warm, it is July, but a day with low humidity is always welcome. That drier air mass will linger for tomorrow before the High will shift east - keeping Hurricane Chris well offshore - and bringing the humidity back for the weekend. T'storm chances increase into next week.
Some mid 5 magnitude quakes today, another 5.3 mag. blast on Hawaii and the Big Island keeps on spewing lava, although it has dammed itself up and isn't making the ocean for the moment. Fuego is still quite rambunctious in Guatemala and Krakatoa is still belching ash in Indonesia. 14 other volcanoes are on the week's list - mostly the usual suspect all around the Ring O Fire.
Venus is still bright in the west with Jupiter high up in the south, with Saturn low in the east. Mars rises earlier and earlier as we catch up with the small, red world. The moon was New earlier today and close to Earth (perigee), so couple that with Chris and high tides should have been wild along the northeast coast today.
Hope you got out for a walk, run, ride or stroll, didn't watch the news, and had a most enjoyable day. I did a serious, deep woods wander trying to make sure loggers don't cut trees they shouldn't...will be keeping a wary, retired eye on them in the near future. But, for now, it's off to the Shenandoah Valley for the Red Wing Roots music festival; year six, under the watchful limestone towers at Natural Chimneys park. As always, get out and see your planet, Today On Earth.
Some mid 5 magnitude quakes today, another 5.3 mag. blast on Hawaii and the Big Island keeps on spewing lava, although it has dammed itself up and isn't making the ocean for the moment. Fuego is still quite rambunctious in Guatemala and Krakatoa is still belching ash in Indonesia. 14 other volcanoes are on the week's list - mostly the usual suspect all around the Ring O Fire.
Venus is still bright in the west with Jupiter high up in the south, with Saturn low in the east. Mars rises earlier and earlier as we catch up with the small, red world. The moon was New earlier today and close to Earth (perigee), so couple that with Chris and high tides should have been wild along the northeast coast today.
Hope you got out for a walk, run, ride or stroll, didn't watch the news, and had a most enjoyable day. I did a serious, deep woods wander trying to make sure loggers don't cut trees they shouldn't...will be keeping a wary, retired eye on them in the near future. But, for now, it's off to the Shenandoah Valley for the Red Wing Roots music festival; year six, under the watchful limestone towers at Natural Chimneys park. As always, get out and see your planet, Today On Earth.
Wednesday, July 11, 2018
Heat & Humidity Return
As we all knew, lows in the 50's and highs in the low 80's was just a quick and lovely break but not the reality of July in Virginia. The break is over and the humidity is back with warm air; but, really just the muggy air ahead of a weak cool front that will slide through today. A very slight chance of showers today and then a small dip in temp and humidity tomorrow and Friday before more summer like conditions return for the weekend. Shower chances increase slightly next week, early.
Cat. 2 hurricane Chris is beginning to move north and slightly east, staying off the coast (but causing unsafe swimming conditions and beach erosion) and expected to move its store of heat up to the Arctic, sliding between Iceland and the UK by the weekend. Beryl, now only a jumble of clouds and rain may reorganize over the Gulf Stream over the next day and take a similar, coast sparing, path similar to Chris later in the week. We could use some rain but wishing for a hurricane is always problematic.
The very thin waning crescent was visible in Taurus for very early risers this morning but is only 36 hours from New Moon (and will happen with the moon at Perigee...so, big spring tides to add to Chris' wave action) and won't be seen until Saturday evening, and then low in the west after sunset just above rapidly dropping and fading Mercury. Sunday night it will be very close to Venus, with clear skies that should be spectacular - there's a chance of showers Sunday...
Haven't checked the quake list in a couple of days...I'm betting Kilauea is still rockin' on the Big Island and that there are quakes around - no doubt, still hundreds on Hawaii. But, the large brown dog (didn't realize how large until a step onto the vet scales yesterday) has just returned and it's time to take a walk, today on Earth. Get out there, it ain't that hot.
Cat. 2 hurricane Chris is beginning to move north and slightly east, staying off the coast (but causing unsafe swimming conditions and beach erosion) and expected to move its store of heat up to the Arctic, sliding between Iceland and the UK by the weekend. Beryl, now only a jumble of clouds and rain may reorganize over the Gulf Stream over the next day and take a similar, coast sparing, path similar to Chris later in the week. We could use some rain but wishing for a hurricane is always problematic.
The very thin waning crescent was visible in Taurus for very early risers this morning but is only 36 hours from New Moon (and will happen with the moon at Perigee...so, big spring tides to add to Chris' wave action) and won't be seen until Saturday evening, and then low in the west after sunset just above rapidly dropping and fading Mercury. Sunday night it will be very close to Venus, with clear skies that should be spectacular - there's a chance of showers Sunday...
Haven't checked the quake list in a couple of days...I'm betting Kilauea is still rockin' on the Big Island and that there are quakes around - no doubt, still hundreds on Hawaii. But, the large brown dog (didn't realize how large until a step onto the vet scales yesterday) has just returned and it's time to take a walk, today on Earth. Get out there, it ain't that hot.
Sunday, July 8, 2018
Cool & Dry July???
A strong high pressure system has settled into the mid-Atlantic, keeping a brewing storm off the Carolinas and making for a lovely day here in Virginia; it feels like fall. Pretty wild for July!
Louisa had the first aftershock in quite awhile 4 days ago (only 1.7) and Hawaii keeps erupting. Other than the cool July day - it won't last long- Earth is just doing it's thing but get out and enjoy your planet, Today on Earth.
Louisa had the first aftershock in quite awhile 4 days ago (only 1.7) and Hawaii keeps erupting. Other than the cool July day - it won't last long- Earth is just doing it's thing but get out and enjoy your planet, Today on Earth.
Friday, July 6, 2018
The World Cup Becomes the Euro Cup!!
The storms are brewing in the southeast but it's still muggy and warm here on the northeast side of Richmond. A breeze on a dog walk earlier today was the first refreshing air I've felt in awhile but there is more on the way...once the cold front passes through. A cool, dry weekend is in the forecast; not often Canadian air makes it to Va. in July. Tropical Storm Beryl is building out in the Atlantic and there were fireworks in Russia today.
France scored early against Uruguay as did Belgium twice against Brazil. A hammered, knuckling ball that was mishandled by the Uruguay keeper had them hanging their heads and France rolled. Not so in the B & B match, Brazil scored with 15ish minutes to go and kept up a barrage against the Red Devils but could never find the equalizer. Both matches were fun to watch, not too brutal or too many dives and some amazing futbol. But, that leaves only European teams in the "World" Cup, 2 more go away tomorrow but it doesn't matter who wins - the semis will be all Euro. I will be watching, won't happen again for 4 years...
Radar seems to indicate storms will likely miss the tirehouse and my sister's. Maybe time to take a large brown dog on another walk...always a good move to take a walk, Today On Earth.
A quick equake check...a 6.1 quake at the southern end of the Kamchatka peninsula is a big shake...but no one lives there and likely the bears don't mind. Still 100's in Hawaii and more eruptions, pretty standard for the wild third rock out from the sun. Enjoy.
France scored early against Uruguay as did Belgium twice against Brazil. A hammered, knuckling ball that was mishandled by the Uruguay keeper had them hanging their heads and France rolled. Not so in the B & B match, Brazil scored with 15ish minutes to go and kept up a barrage against the Red Devils but could never find the equalizer. Both matches were fun to watch, not too brutal or too many dives and some amazing futbol. But, that leaves only European teams in the "World" Cup, 2 more go away tomorrow but it doesn't matter who wins - the semis will be all Euro. I will be watching, won't happen again for 4 years...
Radar seems to indicate storms will likely miss the tirehouse and my sister's. Maybe time to take a large brown dog on another walk...always a good move to take a walk, Today On Earth.
A quick equake check...a 6.1 quake at the southern end of the Kamchatka peninsula is a big shake...but no one lives there and likely the bears don't mind. Still 100's in Hawaii and more eruptions, pretty standard for the wild third rock out from the sun. Enjoy.
Thursday, July 5, 2018
Same Old, Hot, Shaky, Erupting Planet
An eastern breeze and a few clouds have cooled (less hot?) things down just a touch here in the Old Dominion but it still feels like July outside. And, as a yearly reminder, tomorrow, our planet will be as far from the sun as it's going to get in 2018 so... the DISTANCE FROM THE SUN HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE SEASONS??? That is correct, it's not the distance, it's the Earth's tilt and resulting sun angle that causes seasons: more direct light for longer periods, SUMMER, less direct light for much shorter periods, WINTER.
There still have been no quakes of above magnitude 6 in the last week(only one at 6.1 in the last month), barely mag. 5 today but quakes in Israel (4.5) and a swarm in the northern Caribbean make me wonder if there isn't something up in those spots - or just Earth loosening and stretching as usual. Fuego and Kilauea are still going strong in eruption mode and Krakatoa has folks attention in an important shipping lane in Southeast Asia. The Ring of Fire is all fired up.
The planet parade is still quite lovely in the early evening sky although clouds blocked any chance of seeing Venus and Mercury here last night. The moon will be 3rd or Last Quarter tomorrow, calming the tidal action of Earth's oceans (Neap Tides) and quite lovely itself in the daylight morning sky.
A cold front working through the midwest arrives here tomorrow with a chance for some needed showers and ushering in some cooler, drier air for the weekend and into next week. Until then, it's still a fine planet to wander about on, get out there and give it a visit, Today On Earth.
There still have been no quakes of above magnitude 6 in the last week(only one at 6.1 in the last month), barely mag. 5 today but quakes in Israel (4.5) and a swarm in the northern Caribbean make me wonder if there isn't something up in those spots - or just Earth loosening and stretching as usual. Fuego and Kilauea are still going strong in eruption mode and Krakatoa has folks attention in an important shipping lane in Southeast Asia. The Ring of Fire is all fired up.
The planet parade is still quite lovely in the early evening sky although clouds blocked any chance of seeing Venus and Mercury here last night. The moon will be 3rd or Last Quarter tomorrow, calming the tidal action of Earth's oceans (Neap Tides) and quite lovely itself in the daylight morning sky.
A cold front working through the midwest arrives here tomorrow with a chance for some needed showers and ushering in some cooler, drier air for the weekend and into next week. Until then, it's still a fine planet to wander about on, get out there and give it a visit, Today On Earth.
Wednesday, July 4, 2018
Happy 242nd Birthday America
It's hot out there... as it should be on the fourth and hang on and get out and vote America... we'll get through this current "no one in charge" phase and get some leadership and some people with a clue. Because they are out there.
Happy 4th of July!!!
Happy 4th of July!!!
Tuesday, July 3, 2018
Hey Baby, It's the 3rd of July
And, as you might expect in early July, IT'S HOT!! This will be the 6th straight day above 90 degrees here in Va. And, the humidity has crept up little by little each day, until it is downright nasty outside: gross air. It is still a lovely thing that the forest keeps things a little more pleasant and just a hint of breeze helps with cooling (sweat+evaporation=cooling). Still it's toasty out there, not to be trifled with and sure makes you appreciate air conditioning!! The good news is; we are not to the summer days when it's always above 90 - and with the warming planet it's coming - and a cold/cool front currently chilling the northwest US will arrive Friday/Saturday and knock temperatures back into the 80's...but not until Saturday. A slightly cooler week is forecast for next week - I'm hoping with a lovely weekend for mid month with the 6th Red Wing Roots music festival on the horizon.
Hot conditions seem to prevail in Russia for the World Cup, too, and some hot soccer; the Belgium/Japan thriller yesterday was one for the ages. The last of the round of 16 wraps up today and there have been some shockers, some thrillers and some of the usual whining - give it a rest Mexico; you played like crap, were nasty with the fouls and got your asses kicked by a much better team.
The Ring of Fire is the place to be for quakes today but with only a couple of quakes in the 5+ range, but that includes a 5.1 quake from another eruption at Kilauea; still rocking on the big island - new rock that is. And, 4 states that wouldn't come to mind for quakes, right up the middle of the country, TX, OK, KS, NB, all with small quakes today - Thanks Fracking and the lovely injection of salt water back into the earth. Yesterday, on the evening business news an oil price expert mentioned how with fracking there was now no end in sight of oil and then blahblahblahhed about what prices might do... bet he's not going to share his profits to help with ground water pollution issues, and rising temps and seas from all that hydrocarbon burning. As long as the price is stable and low enough for donniejohnie the chump to tell us how good he is...for everything. Going to be a long, hot, ugly century without some major changes...and as always, the reminder: the Earth doesn't care how hot or cold it is or where sea level is, or if there are humans on the planet - this planet couldn't care less.
There are some easy solutions, keep your religious beliefs to yourself, use contraception so you have none or one or two great kids and be nice to people. Then use/eat less and get out and do more under your own power. It's not tricky.
It's hot our there so go slow, but get out and check out your planet, Today on Earth.
And, if you can deal with the mugginess and mosquitoes check out the planet show in the evening sky: from the west above the sunset you can see Mercury (low and dim) Venus (crazy bright) Jupiter (high in south) and Saturn (lowish in east) Mars (rises red in East as Venus is setting). They are lovely.
Hot conditions seem to prevail in Russia for the World Cup, too, and some hot soccer; the Belgium/Japan thriller yesterday was one for the ages. The last of the round of 16 wraps up today and there have been some shockers, some thrillers and some of the usual whining - give it a rest Mexico; you played like crap, were nasty with the fouls and got your asses kicked by a much better team.
The Ring of Fire is the place to be for quakes today but with only a couple of quakes in the 5+ range, but that includes a 5.1 quake from another eruption at Kilauea; still rocking on the big island - new rock that is. And, 4 states that wouldn't come to mind for quakes, right up the middle of the country, TX, OK, KS, NB, all with small quakes today - Thanks Fracking and the lovely injection of salt water back into the earth. Yesterday, on the evening business news an oil price expert mentioned how with fracking there was now no end in sight of oil and then blahblahblahhed about what prices might do... bet he's not going to share his profits to help with ground water pollution issues, and rising temps and seas from all that hydrocarbon burning. As long as the price is stable and low enough for donniejohnie the chump to tell us how good he is...for everything. Going to be a long, hot, ugly century without some major changes...and as always, the reminder: the Earth doesn't care how hot or cold it is or where sea level is, or if there are humans on the planet - this planet couldn't care less.
There are some easy solutions, keep your religious beliefs to yourself, use contraception so you have none or one or two great kids and be nice to people. Then use/eat less and get out and do more under your own power. It's not tricky.
It's hot our there so go slow, but get out and check out your planet, Today on Earth.
And, if you can deal with the mugginess and mosquitoes check out the planet show in the evening sky: from the west above the sunset you can see Mercury (low and dim) Venus (crazy bright) Jupiter (high in south) and Saturn (lowish in east) Mars (rises red in East as Venus is setting). They are lovely.
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